2014 Church of God Resolution on Peace in Israel and the Middle East

The following resolution regarding Peace in Israel and the Middle East is presented by the International Executive Committee in accordance with a directive given by the International General Council at the 2014 International General Assembly which directed the International Executive Committee to act as a Committee of Action to bring back a resolution regarding Peace in Israel and the Middle East to the International General Council at an appropriate time:

Whereas, given the special place of the Jewish people in salvation history (Rom. 3.1-2; 9.4-6) as the chosen people of God through which the Messiah would come and all nations of the world would be blessed, including the blessing which accrues to the people of God through the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12.1-3; Gal. 3.7-9); and,

Whereas, the Holy Scripture and the Messiah, whose life and mission bless all nations, point to the Jewish heritage of the Christian faith (Mt. 1.1; Jn 1.17; Gal. 3.16; Heb. 1.1-2); and,

Whereas, as the followers of Jesus we ought to be ‘witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1.8); and,

Whereas, our God, the God revealed in Scripture, extends his grace to all people, that God causes his rain to fall and sun to shine upon the evil and the good alike (Mt. 5.45), and that Paul prays for salvation of all, not just for the Gentiles but also for the Jews (Rom. 10.1); and,

Whereas, the land of Israel has for many years been home to the descendants of Abraham; and,

Whereas, numerous Palestinians and people throughout the Middle East are devoted followers of Christ, brothers and sisters who have suffered owing to their faith (Jn 15.18-25; 16.31-33); and,

Whereas, since the foundation of the world, God’s intent for his creation is shalom (peace), and Jesus, the Prince of Peace, exhorts us to pray ‘thy kingdom come thy will be done’ (Mt. 6.10), and the author of Hebrews commands that we pursue peace with everyone (Heb. 12.14), and the Old Testament commands all to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps. 122.6); and,

Whereas, Jesus promises blessing on those who are peacemakers (Mt. 5.9) and commands that we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Mt. 5.44); and,

Whereas, throughout its history this region has been torn apart by intensive suffering, oppression, and violence; and,

Whereas, modern Israel is a democratic state whose constitution guarantees the rights of all its citizens regardless of race, ethnicity, religious commitment or lack thereof, and that God instructs the Israel of Scripture that ‘You must follow exactly the path that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you are to possess’ (Deut. 5.33);

Now therefore be it resolved that, we affirm our support of a political solution that ensures all the inhabitants of Israel and its neighbors peace and security; and,

Be it further resolved that we recognize the right of Israel to exist as a sovereign nation and pray for its peace and safety; and,

Be it further resolved that though decades of violent tension in the Middle East has brought intense suffering to Christians and Jews, we encourage and pray for the protection and security of all parties; and,

Be it further resolved that we stand with and pray especially for our Christian brothers and sisters, throughout the Middle East including many Jewish and Arab Christians, who have suffered and are suffering greatly in this conflict; and,

Be it further resolved that we support the work of Church of God ministries in the region involved in peace, justice, and reconciliation. We also support the active proclamation of the ‘gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek’ (Rom. 1.16); and,

Be it further resolved that we call upon all nations of the Middle East to change their restrictive laws with regard to religious conversion; and,

Be it finally resolved that we oppose any form of prejudice including anti-Semitism, racial segregation, and religious discrimination against any and all citizens of Israel.

Very interesting commentary. We are in Israel at the present moment and have traveled to the boarder of Syria about 35 miles from Damascus where we see this exact end time scenario unfolding. Perhaps not today but could it be soon and very soon? Come quickly Lord Jesus.

According to Israels military people Russia is lined with the countries you mention and include China. They are actively bombing Syrian opposition that President Obama is supporting. The stage is being set. The nations are being alined. Israel and Russia have had some close air incidents. The word here is to look for Russia to squash ISIS because of the plane bombing.

from what we have seen/heard from Netanyahu Obama has little say in Israels exterior politics. And the only way Russia has any say is true the large Russian lobby in Israel, but I strongly doubt Russian Jews are pro-Russian influence in the region

I believe the possibility of Damascus being destroyed and THEN the man that received a head wound will have the spirit of the antichrist come upon him. The destruction of Damascus will cause people to look for a leader and…there ya have it!

just 2 days later: Possible new strategy for ISIS and Syria. Putin and Obama working out new cooperative strategy.
Russians will control Syria. A ceasefire between Assad and rebel groups. US will back Sunni tribes in Iraq. All will work together to destroy ISIS. After that then a possible transition for Assad to get out and then have elections within 18 mos.
We will not send US soldiers, but support those local forces to fight ISIS from both Syria and Iraq.
~ Gen. Nash via Jon Sellers http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/11/15/french-jets-target-isis-in-raqqa/

Dr. Robert Morey has one solution to the alleged war on terror.HOW? Destroy the foundations of Islam!

1. the city of Mecca with the stone temple of Kabah 2. Medina, the burial place of Muhammad 3. Dome Mosque on the Temple site in Jerusalem

While all will not say Amen to that, its worthwhile to point out that Christianity has a foundation which cannot be destroyed…ever. Islam, on the other hand, depends on places and buildings for its continued existence.

From his book Winning the War Against Radical Islam “The terrorists and terrorist nations such as Saudi Arabia only fear one thing: the destruction of the religion of Islam. There is nothing in this life that has greater value to them than Islam. They are willing to sacrifice and even die to promote Islam. This religious motivation is the engine that drives the Jihad against us.

The path to Paradise, according to the Five Pillars of Islam, involves the city of Mecca and its stone temple called the Kabah. Muslims pray toward Mecca five times a day. What if Mecca didn’t exist anymore?

They must make a pilgrimage to Mecca and engage in an elaborate set of rituals centered around the Kabah once they arrive. What if Mecca and the Kabah were only blackened holes in the ground?

What if Medina, the burial place of Muhammad was wiped off the face of the planet?

What if the Dome Mosque on the Temple site in Jerusalem was blown up? The greatest weakness of Islam is that it is hopelessly tied to sacred cities and buildings. If these cities and buildings were destroyed, Islam would die within a generation as it would be apparent to all that its god could not protect the three holiest sites in Islam

I do not think the church should fight Islam. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.

However, I do think America should fight back against Islamic extremism; and I also think there is some credence and expedience to banning the immigration of Muslims and people from Islamic dominated areas and countries who are NOT American citizens.

I actually think America should close the borders to ALL immigration and focus on taking care of our own problems for a while — at least until we are actually in a position to afford to bring others here.

I do not think the church should fight Islam. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.

However, I do think America should fight back against Islamic extremism; and I also think there is some credence and expedience to banning the immigration of Muslims and people from Islamic dominated areas and countries who are NOT American citizens.

I actually think America should close the borders to ALL immigration and focus on taking care of our own problems for a while — at least until we are actually in a position to afford to bring others here.

The Temple Institute has in recent years determined that they can in fact build the temple under the Dome without destroying it. Some claim to have information that the Arc of the Covenant is already located there

The Temple Institute has in recent years determined that they can in fact build the temple under the Dome without destroying it. Some claim to have information that the Arc of the Covenant is already located there

I am not sure what will happen there, all I know is no Muslim will share the dome or the Holy Land with the Jews and neither will the jews share it with the Muslims. They have hated each other like Cain and Abel from the beginning.

like in the movie “Independence Day” theres you a reason why Pentecostals were not allowed in the movies back in the day of Charles Page You give a Pentecostal too much imagination and the heavenly temple lands on the Dome…

I am not sure what will happen there, all I know is no Muslim will share the dome or the Holy Land with the Jews and neither will the jews share it with the Muslims. They have hated each other like Cain and Abel from the beginning.

like in the movie “Independence Day” theres you a reason why Pentecostals were not allowed in the movies back in the day of Charles Page You give a Pentecostal too much imagination and the heavenly temple lands on the Dome…

I am not sure what will happen there, all I know is no Muslim will share the dome or the Holy Land with the Jews and neither will the jews share it with the Muslims. They have hated each other like Cain and Abel from the beginning.

like in the movie “Independence Day” theres you a reason why Pentecostals were not allowed in the movies back in the day of Charles Page You give a Pentecostal too much imagination and the heavenly temple lands on the Dome…

And to be honest if they do not accept Jesus by the time he returns and the new Jerusalem decend out of Heaven then they wont have any temple at all because if they have not accepted Christ then they will be in Hell

I am not sure what will happen there, all I know is no Muslim will share the dome or the Holy Land with the Jews and neither will the jews share it with the Muslims. They have hated each other like Cain and Abel from the beginning.

like in the movie “Independence Day” theres you a reason why Pentecostals were not allowed in the movies back in the day of Charles Page You give a Pentecostal too much imagination and the heavenly temple lands on the Dome…

And to be honest if they do not accept Jesus by the time he returns and the new Jerusalem decend out of Heaven then they wont have any temple at all because if they have not accepted Christ then they will be in Hell

If a new temple is ever made the priest who offers sacrifice is The Antichrist, because The New Testament tells us REPEATEDLY that Jesus is the High Priest FOREVER and that his sacrifice is final. A new temple High Priest would be giving the middle finger to the atoning work of Jesus Christ

I am not unsure. We are not under the Mosaic law but the new covenant in which Jesus died for every person. He died even for his enemies. So if the gospel comes to them and they reject it, then they have the judgment already. John 3. If they accept it then they have life in Christ.

President Barack Obama condemned Palestinian terror and said that Israel has the right and duty to defend itself against terrorism and expressed his condolences to Israeli victims. He urged steps for lowering the current high temperatures. He and PM Binyamin Netanyahu delivered short statements before starting their White House meeting Monday. Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution and his wish to see “two states for two peoples, a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes a Jewish state.” He agreed that steps were necessary for bringing peace forward. Obama said that Israeli security remained a top priority of his administration. The military and intelligence cooperation attained by the US and Israel was closer than between any other two governments in history, said the president. “We are concerned that Israel will not only be able to defend itself, but also withstand regional threats,” he said. President Obama said the focus of their discussion would be a future US defense package that will last a decade. Netanyahu thanked the president for his work for Israeli security and the deep friendship binding the US and Israel.

Ha ha, I think I would have to make a distinction between the passing on of tradition versus thought control. The totalitarian spirit lies behind Marxism and socialism. While teaching sound doctrine and passing on tradition is important for the continuation of those things especially the church. Conformity and obedience come from the heart in the church. But Socialism/Marxism require a totalitarian control because what they are demanding is counterintuitive to the best interests of the people.

I think this was it “Inspired by Shiloh, the group practiced Christian communism and sought to uplift and evangelize “poor mountain whites” in the vicinity (Robins, pp. 124-135).” Robins, A. J. Tomlinson: Plainfolk Modernist (2004) http://www.anb.org/articles/08/08-02364-print.html

We as followers of Christ have allot in common with Israel. It is no coincidence how the entire world is suddenly moving in opposition toward them. They have tried so many times to come to peace with Palestine, but at this point there is no longer any possibility of peace again between the two. As the days countdown, what we are seeing is the gathering of Gods enemies (That is people who hold themselves in enmity with Israel) to become what is called the abomination of desolation.

There is a Pastor by the name John Hagee who is very well known for his revelations in the Blood moon prophecies. He calls it out to be a Anti-Sematic Spirit; an evil which despises good and adores evil. Indeed we who are spiritual see this hatred, which comes without reason. But just as David was HATED by many, God remained his deliverer, and so will he be to the people of Israel, who are found dead to the World, and also to those who are found alive in Christ.

How many remember ..the six day war..when all thought ..oh my throat Russian backed .big
Ejyptian army was going to
Wipeout Isreal….or so they thought…..remember what happened….Hello …its not Netinyahoo or US ..thats looking out for Isreal…HE THAT KEEPETH ISREAL
NEITHER SLUMBERS OR SLEEPS
PEj

Much of the Anti-Semitism in the Church today is rooted in the teachings of Martin Luther. I would suggest Googling his book “On The Jews And Their Lies”. You will find the most hateful statements you have ever heard about another race of people. Adolf Hitler commends Luthers work and it is believed by many that Hitler was strongly influenced by the Anti-Semitic teachings of Luther.

Of course, we can go back even further and find that the hatred of Jewish people by Christians can be traced to Constantine, and even before that. Constantine made a decree that all who followed his blended version of Christianity that mixed Bible beliefs with his own paganism that he wanted to hold on to. He made people declare an oath to denounce everything “Jewish” about the Christian faith, which is a large part of it, since the entire Bible was written by Jewish men.

If we base our affinity for modern Israel upon Genesis 12:3, I think it is a fair question to ask who are the sons of Abraham? Who inherits this promise? These questions do not give us every answer, but it should point us to faith in Jesus Christ. If it is the faithful who are Sons of Abraham, wouldnt the blessings and cursing be inherited by his seed as defined by Galatians 3:7-9?

Israel has just gone through a horrible and furious war between its neighbors, the war described in Psalm 83 and elsewhere is now over. Israel’s borders have expanded dramatically, forever changing the landscape of power in the region. Fulfilling the promise of Jeremiah 49:2, Israel will then look something like this:

Jeremiah 49:2 Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will cause to be heard an alarm of war In Rabbah of the Ammonites; It shall be a desolate mound, And her villages shall be burned with fire. Then Israel shall take possession of his inheritance,” says the LORD.

Egypt will have witnessed this onslaught that Israel unleashes and will tremble in fear.

Isaiah 19:16-17 In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them. And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified, because of what the LORD Almighty is planning against them.

Syria will have suffered a horrendous defeat, having their capital of Damascus completely destroyed in a nuclear attack in one evening!

Jeremiah 49:23-26 Against Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are shamed, for they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted; there is trouble on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus has grown feeble; she turns to flee, and fear has seized her. Anguish and sorrows have taken her like a woman in labor. Why is the city of praise [Jerusalem] not deserted, the city of My joy? Therefore her young men shall fall in her [Damascus] streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 17:1,9,14 1 An oracle concerning Damascus: “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. 9 In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation. 14 In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us.

The nations of the world will see this nuclear attack and they will panic. They will cause such a stir with their moaning and complaining against Israel, their roar will sound like the rushing waves of the sea. They will try to stop Israel but God turns them away.

Isaiah 17:12, 13 Woe to the multitude of many people, [which] make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, [that] make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but [God] shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

Jordan, because of their traitorous actions, will now be under Israeli control. This fact becomes crucially important later on during the Tribulation because the surviving remnant of Israel will be forced to flee into Jordan’s hills, escaping the Antichrist.

And Egypt will have gone at least partially under Israeli control as well.

Isaiah 19:18-19 18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. 19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border.

This war will have laid waste to every minor nation in the area that has called for the destruction of Israel. And possibly because of an earlier surgical military strike against Iran, Israel will be temporarily at peace. This now transitions into the period described in Ezekiel 38 where Israel is at peace and is soon attacked by Iran, Russia, Libya and Turkey. Israel will be overflowing with wealth from the spoils of war. They will be in possession of vast oil fields from the Northwest portions of Saudi Arabia. They will have treasures from Egypt and vast fortunes from Syria and Jordan’s Kingdom. This will pose as quite the temptation for Russia as Iran plots their revenge.

Ezekiel 38:11-14 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places [that are now] inhabited, and upon the people [that are] gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know [it]?

Israel will be fat and at peace, proudly relishing the spoils of war as they celebrate their victory over such foes. Can you fathom the fury in the remaining Muslims when Israel, land of the Jews, has control of much of Saudi Arabia, home of Mecca, their most holy city?

Ezekiel 38: 15, 16 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Here is described the purpose of bringing these nations to Israel, so that the heathen might know the Lord. This is a prophecy that has been proclaimed, studied, read and deciphered for thousands of years and finally it takes place. This gives such a testimony on the validity of the word of God, where millions will come to know him over such truths.

Ezekiel 38:18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, [that] my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy [and] in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that [are] upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

This time it is not Israel that fights back and wins the victory, it is the Lord himself! Confusion sweeps through the ranks as they enter Israel’s territory. Russia, along with Iran, Libya and Turkey will invade with a massive army, described as a cloud covering the land. A great earthquake will strike the land as God’s fury is unleashed. Floods, great hailstones, fire from heaven will obliterate the attacking armies, giving no other answer as to how this happened other than by God’s own hand!

Israel will see God giving them this victory and this will cause such a stir in their hearts that they will tear down the dome of the rock and set out to rebuild their Temple. This is not the response God was looking for. In fact, this is the last straw for the Lord. So much so that he now allows the Antichrist to be made known as the Great Tribulation is ushered upon us.

Answering those who dismiss Jeremiah 49 regarding the future of #ISRAEL

Is the beginning of the end of the world upon us? Well, that depends upon who you ask.

In case you haven’t noticed, End Times theology has become a hot topic in media this summer. From discussions surrounding Syria and its alleged role in Biblical prophesy to grander curiosities about Jesus Christ’s supposed Second Coming, the debate over these themes has been a spirited one, as TheBlaze recently noted. And as supporters continuously speak out, critics of End Times theology are vocal of late, highlighting their contention that applying Old Testament Bible verses to future unforeseen events and happenings is haphazard (we highlighted some of the main arguments against this prophetic inclination in past coverage of the issue).

Considering these critiques, TheBlaze once again interviewed author and Bible expert Joel Rosenberg to see what he has to say in response to those who disagree with his interpretation of scripture. Rosenberg, who believes that Isaiah 17:1-3, among other verses, highlight what’s to come, attempted to poke holes in counterarguments, charging that those who dismiss the view that the Bible holds many keys to the End Times fail to see the full picture.

As a refresher, Isaiah 17:1-3 reads, “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid. The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Considering the current international conflict, this is obviously capturing attention. Some critics dismiss the application of these verses to future prophecy and note that Damascus has been attacked numerous times throughout its history. Thus, they believe prophecy has already been fulfilled. Some hold that there’s no remaining foresight at any level and simply believe that what is described already unfolded in 732 B.C.

1. Damascus Has Been Attacked Before, But… TheBlaze asked Rosenberg to respond to this latter claim and he noted, first and foremost, that Damascus certainly has been attacked in the past – but the Bible expert added an important caveat: Damascus has never ceased to be a city, something that Rosenberg believes is clearly prophesied in Isaiah 17.

“There’s no question that Damascus has been attacked and conquered numerous times through history. Nobody is debating that,” said the author. “The question is whether the actual text has come to fulfillment.”

Rosenberg pointed out a unique fact about Damascus, the capital of Syria: It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on the earth. It is first mentioned in Genesis and yet it still appears in modern-day headlines.

While he agrees that the 732 B.C. attack undeniably unfolded (Isaiah 7 and 8 predict this event, Rosenberg believes), he also holds that the prophesy in Isaiah 17:1-3 hasn’t yet been fulfilled, because Damascus continued to be a city following the attack by the Assyrians — and it remains an active and inhabited locality even today.

2. Rosenberg Says Isaiah Didn’t Receive the Prophecy Until After 732 B.C. Rosenberg’s second argument is that Isaiah, in the expert’s estimation, didn’t receive the contents of Isaiah 17 until after 732 B.C. If this is true, it would mean that the Assyrian attack on Damascus was not what was being referenced in the text.

“It’s true that Isaiah prophesied about the conquering of Damascus — that happens in chapter 7 and 8 — and that is exactly what came to fulfillment in 732 B.C., but in chapter 14, in verse 28, Isaiah says something that’s fascinating and relevant,” argued the author.

Isaiah 14:28 reads, “This prophecy came in the year King Ahaz died.” Rosenberg believes this line is key to the debate. Since King Ahaz (king of Judah) died around 710 B.C., Rosenberg (who said the year of death was closer to 715 B.C.) runs through some logic that would, at the least, force his critics to respond with their own timeline of events. Perhaps only the text in Isaiah 14 and not 17 came in 710, but regardless the language does create some questions.

“This means that the prophesies of Isaiah 17 were not given to the prophet until 715 B.C., which is nearly two decades after the conquering of Damascus [in 732], so this helps us have assurance that Isaiah 17 wasn’t fulfilled in 732,” he continued.

Rosenberg said that it’s easy to overlook the verse referencing the king – one that seemingly provides context to Isaiah 17. The 732 B.C. prophesy, Rosenberg argues, gives Isaiah credibility, however what he promises in chapter 17 has yet to, in the Bible expert’s view, come to fruition.

“When he gives us end times prophesies, we can be assured that those will happen one day because the other things he had said had already come true,” Rosenberg told TheBlaze.

3. Isaiah 17 Isn’t the Only Alleged Prophecy to Come The “Damascus Countdown” author also notes that it’s not only Isaiah 17 that makes apparent End Times references. You have to look at Jeremiah, too.

While the Syria conflict has shed light on the first three verses of that chapter, Rosenberg made it clear that Isaiah 11 through 24 is filled with “big picture” prophesies that he believes are set to take place in the future. These even include timestamps, Rosenberg claims.

“It’s really sad what the Bible says will happen to Damascus one day and I’m not saying that I know when it will happen,” he added. “I don’t know when these prophesies will come to pass. Will they happen in our lifetime? Well, they could.”

Regardless of where people stand on the issue, Rosenberg said that it’s important for individuals to be aware of what is said in the scriptures. The impact of the End Times — and the theories surrounding the controversial theology — are worth understanding, he told TheBlaze. Rosenberg also recommends that people who are interested in the subject read a parallel passage in Jeremiah 49:23-27 – a prophetic word that he believes couldn’t have possibly happened in 732 B.C., as Jeremiah wasn’t born yet (he died in 570 B.C.).

“It backs up Isaiah 17 and gives us more details and it comes in a section about End Times prophecies,” he said. “It refers to the judgment of Iran, which was known at that time as Elam.”

Rosenberg noted that these verses, again, describe Damascus. Here are those scripture references:

Again, he cautioned that we may not yet be seeing this come to pass, despite the fact that Syria is currently in the headlines. But Rosenberg did describe some of the modern-day happenings that cause some pause. In the current crisis, millions have fled Syria and the United Nations recently estimated that five million people are internally displaced. In sum, seven million Syrians have attempted to escape to either internal or external locations. “I want to be the most conservative guy on this … I’m not claiming that this prophesy is going to come true in our lives,” he said. “[But] it’s worth at least being aware of these prophecies.”

What is Aroer? Isaiah 17:1-3 also claims that “the cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks.” Considering that this often gets little attention (after all, if Damascus’ destruction has apparently yet to come, what about “Aroer?”) TheBlaze asked for Rosenberg’s understanding of the word.

“The word Aroer in Hebrew means ruins. It comes from a root word, which can be interpreted — it either means destitute, stripped naked or it can also be translated in other places as a bush or a tree,” explained Rosenberg, noting that there are questions about whether it’s a proper name or a descriptor. He added that the Bible does name at least a few small towns by this name that are located far away from Damascus.

If Aroer is a separate location, critics could argue – pending there’s evidence of an attack – then the verses have already come to fruition or are baseless, as Aroer is no longer a standing locality. But Rosenberg tends to lean against the idea that the word is referencing a specific place, siding with those who believe it really just means “ruins.” “I personally lean against the idea that it’s referencing these specific three small largely unknown places…not a lot happened there of Biblical import,” he said.

There’s No Definitive Timeline Rosenberg encouraged cautiousness when attributing current events to scriptures written long ago and he noted that there is no solid timeline through which people can presume when the End Times might unfold. “Neither Isaiah 17 nor Jeremiah 49 give us any detail about precisely when these prophecies will come to pass,” Rosenberg said. “We know that they would happen prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, because there aren’t judgments that are happening during the Millennial Kingdom” (Christ’s reign before the final judgment). These events, he insists, will happen sometime between today and Jesus’ return.

“The Israel has just gone through a horrible and furious war between its neighbors, the war described in Psalm 83 and elsewhere is now over. Israel’s borders have expanded dramatically, forever changing the landscape of power in the region. Fulfilling the promise of Jeremiah 49:2, Israel will then look something like this:

Jeremiah 49:2 Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will cause to be heard an alarm of war In Rabbah of the Ammonites; It shall be a desolate mound, And her villages shall be burned with fire. Then Israel shall take possession of his inheritance,” says the LORD.

Egypt will have witnessed this onslaught that Israel unleashes and will tremble in fear.

Isaiah 19:16-17 In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them. And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified, because of what the LORD Almighty is planning against them.

Syria will have suffered a horrendous defeat, having their capital of Damascus completely destroyed in a nuclear attack in one evening!

Jeremiah 49:23-26 Against Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are shamed, for they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted; there is trouble on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus has grown feeble; she turns to flee, and fear has seized her. Anguish and sorrows have taken her like a woman in labor. Why is the city of praise [Jerusalem] not deserted, the city of My joy? Therefore her young men shall fall in her [Damascus] streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 17:1,9,14 1 An oracle concerning Damascus: “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. 9 In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation. 14 In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us.

The nations of the world will see this nuclear attack and they will panic. They will cause such a stir with their moaning and complaining against Israel, their roar will sound like the rushing waves of the sea. They will try to stop Israel but God turns them away.

Isaiah 17:12, 13 Woe to the multitude of many people, [which] make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, [that] make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but [God] shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

Jordan, because of their traitorous actions, will now be under Israeli control. This fact becomes crucially important later on during the Tribulation because the surviving remnant of Israel will be forced to flee into Jordan’s hills, escaping the Antichrist.

And Egypt will have gone at least partially under Israeli control as well.

Isaiah 19:18-19 18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. 19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border.

This war will have laid waste to every minor nation in the area that has called for the destruction of Israel. And possibly because of an earlier surgical military strike against Iran, Israel will be temporarily at peace. This now transitions into the period described in Ezekiel 38 where Israel is at peace and is soon attacked by Iran, Russia, Libya and Turkey. Israel will be overflowing with wealth from the spoils of war. They will be in possession of vast oil fields from the Northwest portions of Saudi Arabia. They will have treasures from Egypt and vast fortunes from Syria and Jordan’s Kingdom. This will pose as quite the temptation for Russia as Iran plots their revenge.

Ezekiel 38:11-14 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places [that are now] inhabited, and upon the people [that are] gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know [it]?

Israel will be fat and at peace, proudly relishing the spoils of war as they celebrate their victory over such foes. Can you fathom the fury in the remaining Muslims when Israel, land of the Jews, has control of much of Saudi Arabia, home of Mecca, their most holy city?

Ezekiel 38: 15, 16 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Here is described the purpose of bringing these nations to Israel, so that the heathen might know the Lord. This is a prophecy that has been proclaimed, studied, read and deciphered for thousands of years and finally it takes place. This gives such a testimony on the validity of the word of God, where millions will come to know him over such truths.

Ezekiel 38:18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, [that] my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy [and] in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that [are] upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

This time it is not Israel that fights back and wins the victory, it is the Lord himself! Confusion sweeps through the ranks as they enter Israel’s territory. Russia, along with Iran, Libya and Turkey will invade with a massive army, described as a cloud covering the land. A great earthquake will strike the land as God’s fury is unleashed. Floods, great hailstones, fire from heaven will obliterate the attacking armies, giving no other answer as to how this happened other than by God’s own hand!

Israel will see God giving them this victory and this will cause such a stir in their hearts that they will tear down the dome of the rock and set out to rebuild their Temple. This is not the response God was looking for. In fact, this is the last straw for the Lord. So much so that he now allows the Antichrist to be made known as the Great Tribulation is ushered upon us.

Answering those who dismiss Jeremiah 49 regarding the future of #ISRAEL

Is the beginning of the end of the world upon us? Well, that depends upon who you ask.

In case you haven’t noticed, End Times theology has become a hot topic in media this summer. From discussions surrounding Syria and its alleged role in Biblical prophesy to grander curiosities about Jesus Christ’s supposed Second Coming, the debate over these themes has been a spirited one, as TheBlaze recently noted. And as supporters continuously speak out, critics of End Times theology are vocal of late, highlighting their contention that applying Old Testament Bible verses to future unforeseen events and happenings is haphazard (we highlighted some of the main arguments against this prophetic inclination in past coverage of the issue).

Considering these critiques, TheBlaze once again interviewed author and Bible expert Joel Rosenberg to see what he has to say in response to those who disagree with his interpretation of scripture. Rosenberg, who believes that Isaiah 17:1-3, among other verses, highlight what’s to come, attempted to poke holes in counterarguments, charging that those who dismiss the view that the Bible holds many keys to the End Times fail to see the full picture.

As a refresher, Isaiah 17:1-3 reads, “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid. The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Considering the current international conflict, this is obviously capturing attention. Some critics dismiss the application of these verses to future prophecy and note that Damascus has been attacked numerous times throughout its history. Thus, they believe prophecy has already been fulfilled. Some hold that there’s no remaining foresight at any level and simply believe that what is described already unfolded in 732 B.C.

1. Damascus Has Been Attacked Before, But… TheBlaze asked Rosenberg to respond to this latter claim and he noted, first and foremost, that Damascus certainly has been attacked in the past – but the Bible expert added an important caveat: Damascus has never ceased to be a city, something that Rosenberg believes is clearly prophesied in Isaiah 17.

“There’s no question that Damascus has been attacked and conquered numerous times through history. Nobody is debating that,” said the author. “The question is whether the actual text has come to fulfillment.”

Rosenberg pointed out a unique fact about Damascus, the capital of Syria: It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on the earth. It is first mentioned in Genesis and yet it still appears in modern-day headlines.

While he agrees that the 732 B.C. attack undeniably unfolded (Isaiah 7 and 8 predict this event, Rosenberg believes), he also holds that the prophesy in Isaiah 17:1-3 hasn’t yet been fulfilled, because Damascus continued to be a city following the attack by the Assyrians — and it remains an active and inhabited locality even today.

2. Rosenberg Says Isaiah Didn’t Receive the Prophecy Until After 732 B.C. Rosenberg’s second argument is that Isaiah, in the expert’s estimation, didn’t receive the contents of Isaiah 17 until after 732 B.C. If this is true, it would mean that the Assyrian attack on Damascus was not what was being referenced in the text.

“It’s true that Isaiah prophesied about the conquering of Damascus — that happens in chapter 7 and 8 — and that is exactly what came to fulfillment in 732 B.C., but in chapter 14, in verse 28, Isaiah says something that’s fascinating and relevant,” argued the author.

Isaiah 14:28 reads, “This prophecy came in the year King Ahaz died.” Rosenberg believes this line is key to the debate. Since King Ahaz (king of Judah) died around 710 B.C., Rosenberg (who said the year of death was closer to 715 B.C.) runs through some logic that would, at the least, force his critics to respond with their own timeline of events. Perhaps only the text in Isaiah 14 and not 17 came in 710, but regardless the language does create some questions.

“This means that the prophesies of Isaiah 17 were not given to the prophet until 715 B.C., which is nearly two decades after the conquering of Damascus [in 732], so this helps us have assurance that Isaiah 17 wasn’t fulfilled in 732,” he continued.

Rosenberg said that it’s easy to overlook the verse referencing the king – one that seemingly provides context to Isaiah 17. The 732 B.C. prophesy, Rosenberg argues, gives Isaiah credibility, however what he promises in chapter 17 has yet to, in the Bible expert’s view, come to fruition.

“When he gives us end times prophesies, we can be assured that those will happen one day because the other things he had said had already come true,” Rosenberg told TheBlaze.

3. Isaiah 17 Isn’t the Only Alleged Prophecy to Come The “Damascus Countdown” author also notes that it’s not only Isaiah 17 that makes apparent End Times references. You have to look at Jeremiah, too.

While the Syria conflict has shed light on the first three verses of that chapter, Rosenberg made it clear that Isaiah 11 through 24 is filled with “big picture” prophesies that he believes are set to take place in the future. These even include timestamps, Rosenberg claims.

“It’s really sad what the Bible says will happen to Damascus one day and I’m not saying that I know when it will happen,” he added. “I don’t know when these prophesies will come to pass. Will they happen in our lifetime? Well, they could.”

Regardless of where people stand on the issue, Rosenberg said that it’s important for individuals to be aware of what is said in the scriptures. The impact of the End Times — and the theories surrounding the controversial theology — are worth understanding, he told TheBlaze. Rosenberg also recommends that people who are interested in the subject read a parallel passage in Jeremiah 49:23-27 – a prophetic word that he believes couldn’t have possibly happened in 732 B.C., as Jeremiah wasn’t born yet (he died in 570 B.C.).

“It backs up Isaiah 17 and gives us more details and it comes in a section about End Times prophecies,” he said. “It refers to the judgment of Iran, which was known at that time as Elam.”

Rosenberg noted that these verses, again, describe Damascus. Here are those scripture references:

Again, he cautioned that we may not yet be seeing this come to pass, despite the fact that Syria is currently in the headlines. But Rosenberg did describe some of the modern-day happenings that cause some pause. In the current crisis, millions have fled Syria and the United Nations recently estimated that five million people are internally displaced. In sum, seven million Syrians have attempted to escape to either internal or external locations. “I want to be the most conservative guy on this … I’m not claiming that this prophesy is going to come true in our lives,” he said. “[But] it’s worth at least being aware of these prophecies.”

What is Aroer? Isaiah 17:1-3 also claims that “the cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks.” Considering that this often gets little attention (after all, if Damascus’ destruction has apparently yet to come, what about “Aroer?”) TheBlaze asked for Rosenberg’s understanding of the word.

“The word Aroer in Hebrew means ruins. It comes from a root word, which can be interpreted — it either means destitute, stripped naked or it can also be translated in other places as a bush or a tree,” explained Rosenberg, noting that there are questions about whether it’s a proper name or a descriptor. He added that the Bible does name at least a few small towns by this name that are located far away from Damascus.

If Aroer is a separate location, critics could argue – pending there’s evidence of an attack – then the verses have already come to fruition or are baseless, as Aroer is no longer a standing locality. But Rosenberg tends to lean against the idea that the word is referencing a specific place, siding with those who believe it really just means “ruins.” “I personally lean against the idea that it’s referencing these specific three small largely unknown places…not a lot happened there of Biblical import,” he said.

There’s No Definitive Timeline
Rosenberg encouraged cautiousness when attributing current events to scriptures written long ago and he noted that there is no solid timeline through which people can presume when the End Times might unfold. “Neither Isaiah 17 nor Jeremiah 49 give us any detail about precisely when these prophecies will come to pass,” Rosenberg said. “We know that they would happen prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, because there aren’t judgments that are happening during the Millennial Kingdom” (Christ’s reign before the final judgment). These events, he insists, will happen sometime between today and Jesus’ return.” />

I believe that some archaeologist will discover that the actually Temple/Holy of Holies was built near this area but not exactly under the Dome of the Rock and that will satisfy both traditions. Then the 3rd temple can be constructed in just a matter of months! “the Temple Institute has been working day and night for the past 23 years to create everything that the inside of the Temple will need. So you might say that the hard part is already done.”

if ANYONE destroys the Dome; I do not believe the Muslims will stand aside and allow the Jews to build the 3rd Temple. UNLESS the Dome is destroyed during Armageddon and the 3rd Temple is built before the 1,000 yr reign. (I do not believe this either)

oh.. I see what you are saying now. Do you really think that Yehovah will want HIS Temple built under ground?? I do not! We will see!!! Jubilee is upon us and maybe Yehovah will GIVE Israel back the promised land!!! Hallelujah

GA2018 should consider loaning the 3RD temple committee funds to go ahead and build a temple. The funds could be provided from the Church planting account and ARC might match the funds. Israel would have a temple in eight months!